Page 71 of Expecting Royal Twins!
The long hours were starting to catch up with him. But work was the only thing that had filled the void these past weeks.
Not void, he corrected. The empty space next to him in bed. But work couldn’t touch the empty space in his heart.
Niko’s forehead throbbed. He massaged his temples to stave off another headache.
In the outer office where Jovan worked, a phone rang.
Niko looked up, stretching the cords of muscles in his neck. When he finished he saw his aide standing in front of his desk.
“There is a call for you, sir,” Jovan said.
“You deal with it.”
“It’s Princess Isa—”
Niko grabbed the receiver off his desk. “Isabel.”
His aide walked out of the office with a smile and closed the door.
“Hey, Niko.”
Hearing the sound of her voice for the first time in seven weeks filled him with an odd mixture of relief and regret. “You received the estate transfer paperwork.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Uncomfortable silence filled the line.
He’d always known what to say, especially when it came to women, but Isabel left him as tongue-tied as a schoolboy with a crush on his teacher, instead of a crown prince who had dated some of the most beautiful women in the world. But only one woman haunted his dreams now.
“I—”
“I didn’t call about that,” she said at the same time.
“Excuse me,” he said. “Tell me why you phoned.”
“I—I’m pregnant. With twins.”
Her news stunned him. “Twins.”
“Yes,” she said. “An heir and a spare.”
He would have laughed except for the serious edge to her voice.
“I hope you are happy,” she said, her voice devoid of any emotion.
“I’m thrilled.” And he was. The pregnancy would get them back on track. “I’ll be there tomorrow to bring you home.”
“This doesn’t change anything.”
“But you’re pregnant.”
“Pregnant, Niko, not sick,” she said. “At least not yet. The doctor warned me morning sickness could happen.”
“You need to be seen by a physician at the university hospital.”
“I’m satisfied and happy with the village doctor.”
“But—”
“I’m staying here, but I thought you should know about the babies.”
At least she was in Sachestia and hadn’t returned to the United States. For that he was grateful. She sounded different, more mature. The pregnancy? he wondered. “Thank you.”
“I’d rather the news remain within the family and close members of the staff until the first trimester, just in case I miscarry. You never know what might happen this early.”
His chest ached. He wanted to be with her. “Is the doctor concerned?”
“No, but I’d rather not have to deal with something like that publicly.”
Good thinking. “I understand.”
“Thanks.” She cleared her voice. Perhaps she wasn’t so unaffected by this as she sounded. “My next appointment is in a couple of weeks if you want to come.”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation, thankful for the invitation. “I will make sure my calendar is clear that day.”
“I’ll send the information to Jovan.”
To Jovan. Niko’s insides twisted. He hated this wall between them. “Fine.”
“Okay, then.”
He wasn’t ready to let her go. “If you need anything…”
“Goodbye, Niko. See you at the appointment.”
She hung up before he could reply.
Emotion roiling through him, Niko rose from his desk, exited his office and made the familiar walk to the king’s office.
His father’s assistant looked up from his computer monitor. “The king—”
“Will see me now.” Niko walked past the royal guards, opened the door himself and entered his father’s office.
King Dmitar hung up the phone. “Niko—”
“Isabel is pregnant with twins.”
“Even better than I hoped for.” A wide grin lit up Dmitar’s face. “When does she arrive home?”
“She is staying in Sachestia. She must still be trying to figure things out.”
